Helen's Diary

This is a transcription of some diaries I bought at an antique store near Toledo, Ohio. When the diary starts in January 1937, Helen is a young wife and soon to become a new mother. If you wish to read it, it's best to start with the first post - January 1937 (my oldest post) - and then follow along with her everyday life.

March 7, 2008

November, 1937

Monday, November 1, 1937 – sixth

Dr. examined me – not painful but I was scared. Healing very well – Dot here all afternoon – Wrote letter to my honey – Rosy here with Frank evening

Tuesday, November 2, 1937 – seventh

Frank here while eatting breakfast. Had another enema but feeling fine – Virginia, Louise Ulrich & Mother here – Supper not so good – only Frank evening – so tired

Wednesday, November 3, 1937 – Eighth day

Good elimination – Mother here – Did some sewing – alone with Frank P.M. Eddie Cantor Program – Think Baby is getting cuter all the time

[In the 1930s Eddie Cantor began hosting his own radio show, and by 1936 he was the world's highest paid radio star. His radio shows began with a crowd chanting "We want Cantor - We want Cantor", said to have originated when a vaudeville audience used that chant to chase off an opening act who was on a bill before Cantor. Cantor's theme song was the 1903 pop tune "Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider", dedicated to Eddie's wife Ida.]

Thursday, November 4, 1937 – ninth

Busy morning – Dr. in – Frank in for while A.M. Bath late – Baked ham for lunch – alone with Frank P.M. – Wrote him 2 page letter – Stitches removed at 1:30 P.M.

Friday, November 5, 1937 – tenth

Another lonesome day and worst part of it fish for dinner – dreamed about number 251 – Frank only one here – Just talked – So sleepy

Saturday, November 6, 1937 – Eleventh

Seems a crime to stay in hospital – Sat up in chair – Mother Ceal & Frank here – Franks Mother also – brought me some fruit – PM – Manny & Virginia here – F. late – Not so tired tonight. $5 [$66.00 today] from Sam & Sara. [Frank’s brother & sister-in-law]

Sunday, November 7, 1937 – twelve

Shower this morning – good breakfast – Visited Mrs. Moses – had dinner in her room – Mr. & Mrs. Swartz visited us – Finally got out of hospital – Then excitement – She cried most of night

Monday, November 8, 1937

Certainly is fun to give our little angel a bath – She yelled probably all night – Dorothy over in afternoon – Evening slept from 7 to 10 P.M. feeding

Tuesday, November 9, 1937

Baby cried till 3:30 this AM. – Poor Franky – he has to do all the running around at night – Olive B. here – so sleepy this evening – listened to Jack Oakie

Wednesday, November 10, 1937 – 2 weeks

District nurse here – gave Baby bath – Baby so good all day – evening went home for a while – No sleep at night – She cries all night.

Thursday, November 11, 1937 – Election

Frank took Darwin [her brother] along late number – Have a nasty cough – very tired – Dot & Jim over – so sleepy – Really miserable days

Friday, November 12, 1937

Rainy day – Baby too good all day – Had hair fixed – Evening ride home – ice cream – Elmer & Vivian over – gave baby dress & slip

Saturday, November 13, 1937

More sleep than usual last night – Took baby to the Dr. – stopped with her at Shermans [Frank’s parents] & Ganch’s [Manny & Virginia] & home again

Sunday, November 14, 1937

Brought Baby home today gave her Bath at 5 o’clock – she sleeps pretty good – although 2 A.M. feeding rather tough

Monday, November 15, 1937

What a day – answering the door bell – washing Baby clothes and eatting – Had rib steak – sleep all evening – Frank played soliter alone

Tuesday, November 16, 1937

Shower and oatmeal br – Baby good all day – Having rib roast for supper – awful busy day – 3 insurance men – Dot & Jim over – Baby cried most of even.

Wednesday, November 17, 1937 – 3 weeks

Can’t seem to get things done – still have cough – Ceal here – helped clean Bedroom for me – Clara phoned – quiet evening sewed & listened to Eddie Cantor

Thursday, November 18, 1937

Mother here with Hoover – Brought pie – House all fixed up swell – Brought Wieners with Bacon – Baby very good all day – Snuggle Rug from Max & clara

Friday, November 19, 1937

Beautiful day – snowing – Phoned Dora – afternoon wrote to Sara – letter from Toots – Even. Ins-man here – took out 500 20 year pay life – Baby cried most of ev.

Saturday, November 20, 1937

Streightened up house – Made a chocolate cake – had broiled wieners for supper – Insurance inspector here – quiet evening – Wrote Sara

Sunday, November 21, 1937

Caught 3 mice – Walked to store for Paper – Visited Tangbien [?] – afternoon Ride over to Max & Clara – left Baby with Ceal while we ate at Bud & Lukes – home even

Monday, November 22, 1937

Completely wore out at night and couldn’t even try to learn bridge – Baby sure can yell – I wonder if I’ll ever get some sleep

Tuesday, November 23, 1937

Decided I just had to have a new girdel so neighbor girl stayed here for while. Hardly got down town and had to met Frank – Noisy evening – Frank gone but Baby cried constantly

Wednesday, November 24, 1937 – 4 weeks

Fixing up for tomorrow – cleaned house – Pressed Red Wool dress – Frank went over home – Manny phoned – Baby cross all night

Thursday, November 25, 1937 – Thanksgiving

Took until 1:30 to get everything together to get home – Wonderful Turkey dinner – Howard & Neva there – so tired at night and Baby cried so much

Friday, November 26, 1937

Cleaned house and got supper ready in oven – Took Baby to Dr. Kass some relief – didn’t cry in evening – took walk to Drug store – Bee Farber ph.

Saturday, November 27, 1937

Felt miserable after noon lunch fell asleep – Frank home early – Bill went home – cracked nuts & slept – certainly tired all the time

Sunday, November 28, 1937 – Darwin’s Birthday [Her brother is 14 today]

Stayed home all day – Rainey out – made some nut bars – Rested most of day – Beef roast for dinner – Bed at 7 o’clock – So very tired – only 2 hrs sleep at time

Monday, November 29, 1937

Late on everything – did laundry – got ready regular laundry 42 lbs – cleaned up house – called Dr. – Baby cried all evening – Bee Farber & Dave & Millers & Phil here

Tuesday, November 30, 1937

Phil stayed all night – only had 3 hrs sleep last night – Rested today – hamburg for supper – Evening slept from 7 to 10 & rest of night

MEMORANDUM

Baby Month old has grey eyes weighs about 8 lbs a very colic Baby – still on 2 A.M. feeding

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